plate no. 9602

Karelia. Petrozavodsk

Petros Malayan, 1967

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigureboatswaterrocksharborshore

suitable for beginners

Students would develop watercolor wash techniques and learn to paint simple figures in landscapes while practicing atmospheric perspective with ships in the distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition with the figure, rocks, and distant ships
step 02
Apply light washes for the sky and water background
step 03
Paint the distant harbor and ships with pale, cool tones
step 04
Block in the main rock formations with warm earth tones
step 05
Add the figure with simple shapes and minimal detail
step 06
Paint the small boat and water reflections
step 07
Add final details to rocks and shoreline elements
step 08
Refine the figure's gesture and clothing

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · payne's gray · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix warm grays for rocks using burnt sienna and payne's gray, create atmospheric blues by diluting ultramarine with plenty of water

techniques

·wet-on-dry washes
·atmospheric perspective
·simple figure painting
·loose brushwork

common pitfalls

→overworking the distant ships
→making the figure too detailed
→losing the simple color harmony
→overblending the washes

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb cold press

required

·watercolor paints
·#8 round brush
·#12 flat brush
·watercolor paper 140lb
·burnt sienna
·payne's gray
·raw umber
·ultramarine blue

optional

·natural sponge
·#4 round detail brush
·masking fluid
·spray bottle

Use quality watercolor paper to handle multiple washes without buckling

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